Lamai beach, located 10 Km south of Chaweng on the east coast of Koh
Samui, is the second largest tourist center.
The sand on Lamai beach is a little bit more rough and the water is
deeper.
It is an excellent location for swimming and has a well-known nightlife.

Lamai can be
discovered by walking, as the area is not as large as Chaweng.
The wide sandy beach is not as powdery as that of Chaweng but
the hundreds of coconut trees bending over the blue-green waters
give Lamai a more peaceful and natural atmosphere. And for those
who enjoy playing in the waves, there is no reef
protecting this bay, so the sea is a little rougher, Although it
can get rather busy at night, the small town of Lamai is a good
median between the too remote places and the crowds of Chaweng.
The bungalow accommodation in Lamai is usually a bit cheaper but
you can also find a number of nice, comfortable resorts that are
good value for a little bit more money.

Though Lamai is
smaller and not as crowded as Chaweng, it still has an active
nightlife with many bars (some with live bands) and a large
diversity of restaurants, mini-marts, shops and of course,
massage places and the typical beer bars (in Thai: bar beer).
For the sports-minded, kayaking and snorkeling equipment can be
rented at the beach. On the main beach road, places of interest
include health and meditation centers, dive shops and a Thai
boxing school. As the main street of Lamai is quite narrow and
traffic can get hectic, we once again recommend driving very
carefully. Among Lamai's main attractions are its open-air
market and the old monastery, which includes a local museum and
picturesque village scenes. If you want to get back to nature, a
good place to start is by exploring the paths behind the beach
road. Here you'll find peaceful fruit and coconut plantations,
as well as trails leading into the island's interior.

Down the road are
the famous Grandfather and Grandmother rocks, favorites among
both Thai and foreign tourists. Further south on beach side of
the main road, is Wat Silangu, one of two golden pagodas on the
island. Providing excellent photo opportunities, its shimmering
exterior stands out beautifully against the deep blue tropical
sky. On the way from Lamai to Chaweng, you will find some nice
viewpoints overlooking the two bays of Chaweng Mon and Laem Nam.
Parking is ample and there are a few small restaurants from
which to to enjoy the ocean vistas. Early birds will be
interested in catching a sunrise from one of these redoubts.
Several hotels south of Lamai are hidden in jungle settings
overlooking secluded coves, making them perfect romantic
hideaways. Also, for families there are some nice resorts with
plenty of things for the kids to do. Whatever your accommodation
needs are though, you're likely to find it in Lamai.